European Council President Michel in Tbilisi: political crisis solved, today marks the start of hard work
European Council President Charles Michel has met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili earlier today. Photo: president of Georgia press office.
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European Council President Charles Michel has come to Tbilisi earlier today, shortly after the majority of Georgian political parties signed his proposal to solve the political tension in Georgia which began following the 2020 parliamentary elections.
After a meeting with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Michel said that he is happy Georgian political parties have come to an agreement and stated that ‘today marks the start of hard work that will take Georgia forward along its Euro-Atlantic path.’
???? LIVE NOW - Follow my remarks to the press in Tbilisi with President of #Georgia @Zourabichvili_S https://t.co/8vNm3myX7J
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 20, 2021
He expressed hope that the Georgian state legislature will make laws with the involvement of all political parties present and that the country will carry out major electoral and judicial reforms.
Zurabishvili said that signing the proposal ‘meant much’ for the advancement of Georgian internal politics.
With @Zourabichvili_S and all leaders after reaching the agreement on the way out of the political crisis.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 20, 2021
Today marks the start of hard work that will take Georgia ???????? forward along its Euro-Atlantic path.
This achievement is yours.
Now the challenge is to make this work. pic.twitter.com/lsX58soIdC
She stated that the Georgian people have felt relief because ‘they have been made tired of the permanent tension and polarisation’.
It is the day of victory for the Georgian people,” Zurabishvili said.
The proposal by Michel released on April 18 covers electoral and justice reforms, offers a pardon for all violations and convictions stemming from the 19-21 June 2019 protests and the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections in 2022 if the ruling party fails to receive at least 43 per cent of votes in this year’s municipal elections.
The Georgian Dream ruling party, Lelo opposition party, Citizens, Republicans, Strategy Agmashenebeli, Girchi and Girchi - More Freedom signed the agreement in the presidential palace yesterday to solve the political tension in the country which began following the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Crises are opportunities to build a #BetterTomorrow. Our commitment to democratic progress will make sure our road to development and European integration continues and deepens.
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) April 20, 2021
By putting country above party, the Georgian political spectrum shows commitment to our common goals. pic.twitter.com/AoSEjAXoaz
Former member of the European Georgia opposition party David Bakradze, former member and head of UNM Grigol Vashadze and current UNM member Salome Samadashvili signed the agreement individually.
The UNM, which received 34 of the 60 opposition mandates in the 150-member parliament, the European Georgia party and Labour party have not signed the agreement so far.
However, Shalva Shavgulidze from European Georgia also has plans to sign the agreement.
The third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who currently holds an official post in Ukraine, has urged the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party to sign the new proposal by the EU and enter parliament after UNM leader Nika Melia leaves prison ‘without posting bail and in a dignified manner.’
Georgian Prime Irakli Garibashvili has responded to signing the EU-proposal by majority of Georgian parties to solve the current political tension in the country and stated that ‘now, everyone, should be focused on solving major challenges the country faces.’
The United States welcomes the agreement reached by the government of Georgia and several opposition parties on April 19, under the mediation of European Union President Charles Michel, to bring an end to Georgia’s political crisis, announces the US Embassy to Georgia.
The European Council President Charles Michel will visit Georgia in the afternoon to meet with the leaders of the political parties who signed his proposal yesterday in Tbilisi to solve the political tension in the country which began following the 2020 parliamentary elections. The proposal by Michel covers electoral and justice reforms, offers pardon for all violations and convictions stemming from the 19-21 June 2019 protests and the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections in 2022 if the ruling party fails to receive at least 43 per cent of votes in this year’s municipal elections.
European Council President Charles Michel, who arrived in Georgia after the Georgian opposition and authorities signed the EU-proposed agreement, has stated that the ability to come to a compromise is a strength, not a weakness.
Opposition parties which have signed the EU-mediated agreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party will enter the state legislature on April 27 to submit an amnesty bill. Six Georgian political parties and several individual MPs signed the proposal by the European Council President Charles Michel on April 19 to solve the political tension in Georgia which began after the 2020 parliamentary elections.
The US Department of State has urged the remaining opposition parties and individual MPs to sign the EU-mediated agreement to resolve the political tension in Georgia which began after the October 2020 parliamentary elections.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has announced today that she will pardon opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi TV co-founder Giorgi Rurua on April 27. Zurabishvili had stated earlier on April 19 that she would pardon Rurua if Georgian political parties signed the renewed EU-proposed agreement and if opposition MPs entered parliament.
Members of opposition party Lelo - Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze and Grigol Gogelia - are holding meetings with European Parliament members in Brussels.
The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) has urged political parties not to implement amnesty for alleged violations committed by law enforcement during clashes in Tbilisi on June 20-21, 2019, after a clause for amnesty was included in the proposal by the European Council President designed to solve the political crisis of the recent months in Georgia.
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rik Daems has urged Georgian political parties to practically implement the April 19 EU-mediated agreement which includes large-scale reforms including in the electoral and judiciary fields.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has said that the April 19 EU-mediated agreement remains a "roadmap" for Georgia's European integration, pointing out that the agreement had helped to end a "toxic boycott of the Parliament" after the 2020 elections.